Dayron Wills, 22, was arraigned on five counts each of first-degree assault with a firearm, first degree reckless endangerment, unlawful discharge of a firearm, and possession of marijuana in Stamford, Conn. on Monday July 14, 2014. Wills, who allegedly sprayed a crowd of late-night bar patrons in the middle of downtown Stamford with gunfire early Sunday morning wounding five bystanders was ordered held on $1 million bond.

Photo: Dru Nadler

Dayron Wills, 22, was arraigned on five counts each of first-degree...

STAMFORD -- The man who is accused of firing his semi-automatic gun into a crowd of people in Columbus Park just as the bars and clubs were closing pleaded not guilty Monday in state Superior Court in Stamford.

Dayron Wills, 22, of 300 Tresser Blvd., is facing five counts of first-degree assault and single counts of unlawful discharge of a weapon, reckless endangerment and marijuana possession. His lawyer, Stephan Seeger, asked for a jury trial and a chance to argue for a small bond if he can present mitigating circumstances for Wills' actions.

Police say after they apprehended Wills a short time after the shootings, which were caught on video by a bystander, he admitted firing his gun into the crowd, explaining that a man had struck him with his fist, so he pulled out his gun. Five people were shot.

Wills, who obtained his permit to carry a pistol, as well as the gun, only three days before the shootings, told police he had been standing across the street from Tino's nightclub on West Park Place that night when some people came out of the bar and began fighting. Wills said a man punched him in the face, and he pulled out his laser-sighted gun because he didn't want to be further assaulted, according to his arrest affidavit. Wills said the man still challenged him even after he saw the gun, so he began firing.

Wills, who himself was shot during a drive-by in Stamford about a year ago, walks with a limp and said he began shooting because he felt threatened by the violence around him. He said he blacked out as he was shooting, and did not know how many shots he fired. Police say he fired 10 times.

Seeger said there was a major melee in and around Tino's that night before Wills fired. He said between 30 and 50 people were coming out of Tino's before the trouble began.

"It is all happening at a time when people are throwing bottles and garbage cans, people are throwing poles and our witnesses tell us that there were multiple knives being wielded and the individual that is being shot at is coming at Mr. Wills," Seeger said.

Because of his earlier gunshot injury, Seeger said Wills was off balance and can't run.

"He is going down at a time when he has his weapon on him. His perception is the key aspect of the self-defense claim. Our position is clear: He had a big fear of what was going on. He had no viable way to protect himself and witness statements that we have been gathering bear that out," Seeger said.

None of the shooting victims suffered life-threatening injuries.

However, one 18-year-old woman, who was standing in front of McFadden's Bar at Main and Clark streets with a 19-year-old man who was also shot, was wounded in both breasts. A single bullet grazed her left breast and went through her right breast. Another man, who was crossing Main Street heading toward McFadden's, was been shot in the left arm and left buttock. A man who was fleeing up Main Street almost to the Dunkin' Donuts at the corner of Atlantic Street was shot in the left arm.